Padma Awards: Centre rejected names of Mammootty, KS Chithra
The Union government has reportedly turned down most of the names proposed by the Kerala government for this year’s Padma Awards, including celebrated actor Mammootty and renowned singer KS Chithra, according to Malayalam news channel 24 News.
The channel claims to have access to Kerala’s list of recommended candidates. Among them, only late writer MT Vasudevan Nair (Padma Vibhushan) and Olympian PR Sreejesh (Padma Bhushan) were considered by the Centre.
In contrast, the Union government selected Dr. Jose Chacho Periapuram, actress-dancer Shobana, footballer IM Vijayan, and artist Omanakutty for the awards—none of whom were part of Kerala’s official recommendations.
Kerala had also proposed Padma Shri for writer MK Sanu, athlete Padmini Thomas, former bureaucrat K. Jayakumar IAS, and industrialist TS Kalyanaraman, among 20 nominees. However, all names were rejected, 24 News reported.
The Centre announced the Padma Awards on the eve of India’s 76th Republic Day. Kerala’s literary icon, the late MT Vasudevan Nair, has been posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan. Known as the “Hemingway of Kerala,” he passed away on December 25 last year.
A total of five more Malayalis are among this year’s Padma awardees. The government has conferred Padma Vibhushan on seven individuals, Padma Bhushan on 19, and Padma Shri on 113.
